Lombard restaurant linked to E. coli reopens

Cause of outbreak that sickened 31 is still unknown

July 08, 2013|By Annemarie Mannion, Chicago Tribune reporter

People read notices in June saying that Los Burritos Mexicanos restaurant in Lombard is closed during the DuPage County Health Department's investigation of an E. coli outbreak. The restaurant reopened last week, though the cause of the outbreak is still under investigation. (Chuck Berman, Chicago Tribune)

Investigators are still looking for the cause of an E. coli outbreak last month at a Lombard Mexican restaurant, but the restaurant has been cleared to reopen.

Los Burritos Mexicanos, 1015 E. St. Charles Road, was closed June 14 and reopened last week while investigators continue to try to track the cause of the outbreak.

The most recent tally of people who were made ill during the outbreak was 31, including confirmed and probable cases, according to Jason Gerwig, a spokesman for the DuPage County Health Department. Several people were hospitalized and later released, he said.

According to the county, some of the illnesses were caused by bacteria called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which causes diarrhea. Although most otherwise-healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop severe disease, including possible kidney failure.

Gerwig said inspectors cleared the restaurant to reopen after work was completed over the last several weeks to ensure the public's safety.

"The staff has been trained. The restaurant has been cleaned. All the old food has been thrown out — even stuff that was canned," Gerwig said.

He said the restaurant's approximately dozen employees "have received specialized training including but not limited to hand washing, prevention of cross-contamination, and food surface cleaning."

The Health Department staff will continue to inspect and monitor the restaurant, he said.

Restaurant manager Marco Arteaga said some diners have returned. "We're thrilled to be reopened," Arteaga said. "It's been a little slow, but it's getting busier every day."

Gerwig said it's possible that the cause of the outbreak may never be found.

"In some cases it could be months or you could never find it," he said. "Sometimes it's never pinpointed."

Arteaga said no problems had been reported at the restaurant's other locations in Villa Park and St. Charles. He said all the locations use the same food distributors.

Gerwig said previously that Health Department's decision to temporarily close a restaurant for an E. coli investigation "is very rare, which is why the cluster in Lombard got our attention and we acted so swiftly."

The Health Department receives about 10 reports of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli a year, according to department officials.

Arteaga said the restaurant, which has been open since 1991, has been served with two lawsuits as a result of the outbreak.

"We have nothing to say about it," he said. "Our insurance is taking care of it."